The International Cooperation on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products (VICH) is an international forum for veterinary medicinal product regulatory authorities and the pharmaceutical industry. The VICH aims to harmonise the requirements for the development and authorisation of safer, more effective, higher-quality veterinary medicinal products worldwide. Swissmedic has complied with the internationally harmonised VICH guidelines and standards for many years.
As founding members, the regulatory authorities and the pharmaceutical industry from Europe, Japan and the USA form the core of the VICH. Together with the standing members and Switzerland as an observer, they develop and maintain internationally harmonised standards and guidelines via a Steering Committee and expert groups. The members develop standard data requirements, i.e. technical standards for scientific studies on quality, safety and efficacy, which are required to obtain marketing authorisation for a veterinary medicinal product. This lowers costs and effort for the development of these types of medicinal products and reduces the number of laboratory animals in the development stage.
Since June 2023, Swissmedic together with the Swiss pharmaceutical industry has been actively involved in the VICH as an observer. The Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products participates in the annual meetings of the Steering Committee with observer status, and Swissmedic experts are involved in various VICH expert working groups.